The latest announcement by Google that they will quietly but surely begin to remove parked domains from their searchable index, comes as no surprise.
Google said among other things that:
[…] a new algorithm for automatically detecting parked domains. Parked domains are placeholder sites that are seldom useful and often filled with ads. They typically don’t have valuable content for our users, so in most cases we prefer not to show them.
But that’s not news for the savvy domainers that park domains among other methods of portfolio monetization.
Google hinted about it when they forced the parking companies to remove URL forwarding from the options offered to customers and utilize DNS instead!
Why was that a catalyst move?
With URL forwarding, anyone can use any DNS server of their liking to host domains that are essentially parked. Google’s new algorithm is not quite that revolutionary but rather, it queries the domains for particular DNS servers.
In other words, if it sees Sedo, Parked, DomainSponsor etc. DNS servers, it classifieds the results as coming from a parked domain. Google would not be able to do the same thing as easy with URL forwarding and its plethora of DNS options.
Simple as that.
We aren’t sure what is the case with Frank Schilling‘s InternetTraffic.com thus far but if Google de-indexes all PPC companies without any discrimination, then those that moved their domains en masse to Frank’s latest project will see some disappointing results during the upcoming holiday season.
Edit: During the composition of this article, Sedo emailed us the following, in an ironic twist:
As of January 1st 2012, Sedo will no longer pay out parking revenue for any domains parked using URL forwarding, regardless of the advertising provider source. This is based on a decision from our primary online advertiser, Google, who has stated that they will only monetize name-server (DNS) parked domains.
• DNS-parked domains are more secure and less susceptible to downtime.
• DNS-parked domains load more quickly for visitors, resulting in better CTR and ultimately more revenue.
• DNS forwarding settings can be adjusted in bulk by most registrars, whereas URL forwarding must be set up one domain at a time.
Over the last few months we have sent out multiple communications (personalized emails and newsletter articles) reminding you of the required switch and deadlines to secure your parking earnings. Google already tested not monetizing URL forwarded domains for 48 hours between November 14 and 16. Unfortunately, we cannot make this change for you, but we can make it as easy as possible.
Please visit your registrar account to switch to name-server parking now (check whether a bulk change option is possible) by entering the following details:
• Primary name server: ns1.sedoparking.com
• Secondary name server: ns2.sedoparking.com
That will be a good move in my opinion; domain parking is not illegal or “evil” but it denies many users a good online experience. Owners of parked domains generally target fellow domainers and people with poor typing skills; if you want your domain to appear in serps, why not build something valuable on the domain?
DomainsAfrica – Google has both the pie and the knife. It’s an essential monopoly. It’s already under investigation in Europe.
What is in it for Google?
I am extremely happy with it I have enough ugly sedo parking pages.
I have some domains registered with 1&1 Internet and some of them are forwarded to one of those domains (ie a common domain). I did this so that I wouldn’t have to create multiple web pages, just one. Whether this is morally/philosophically correct I’m not sure but I’m happy to follow Sedo/Google’s requirements. However, when I go to the 1&1 “Control Panel” to edit the details of a domain, it displays the message “Full functionality cannot be guaranteed if you choose DNS settings other than the original 1&1 settings, such as e-mail and web space”. So, can anyone advise me if that is something that I should be worried about. Essentially I need to supply the required Sedo IP addresses for the primary and secondary DNS Servers, but I don’t want it to cause other problems.
TIA,
Graham
Nah,they’re just trying to get rid of the competition.
I mean Google’s just a glorified parked domain and adwords farm itself – all those pages and pages AND pages of useless slurped links and info wrapped up in advertising.Hopeless!Dreadful stuff!The Web would be better off without it I say…
And what about Google’s AdsenseForDomains?
Do those parked domains get dumped too?
—
From Google:
“Google AdSense for Domains
Earn revenue on your parked pages with Google AdSense for domains.
What is AdSense for domains?
AdSense for domains allows publishers with undeveloped domains to help users by providing relevant information including ads, links and search results.
With AdSense for domains, users can find relevant information rather than see empty pages or “page not found” errors. To ensure positive user experience and the quality of our network, these sites are monitored for policy compliance and prohibited from using text and images designed to confuse users.
AdSense for domains provides advertisers with additional opportunities to find their customers, and ads on these pages convert well. In addition, we regularly receive requests from advertisers who have found domains to be an effective way to reach their users.
If you have undeveloped domains, then AdSense for domains can help your users.”
—
Notice these lines:
“Earn revenue on your parked pages”
“allows publishers with undeveloped domains to help users by providing relevant information including ads”
“users can find relevant information rather than see empty pages ”
“ads on these (Parked) pages convert well”
“ads on these pages convert well”
“advertisers… have found domains to be an effective way to reach their users.”
—
Now all of a sudden “Parked domains are placeholder sites that are seldom useful and often filled with ads. They typically don’t have valuable content for our users…”
So what happened Mr.Google?
Were you fibbing before?
Graham Smith says:
“…when I go to the 1&1 “Control Panel” to edit the details of a domain, it displays the message “Full functionality cannot be guaranteed if you choose DNS settings other than the original 1&1 settings, such as e-mail and web space”. So, can anyone advise me if that is something that I should be worried about.”
Graham,
You have nothing to worry about unless you are using 1and1 for email and hosting.
They made another change today which Lucius didn’t mention: Google is saying that it’s pulling back on allowing a single site to potentially occupy too much of the top search results.
What does that mean for domainers? I think that the sales and the sale prices will go up. Especially on generic names.
“Google is saying that it’s pulling back on allowing a single site to potentially occupy too much of the top search results.”
Setup a network of related sites and you can still take up most of page one if seo is good.
Check your sites on seoworkers dot com. All of the ones I tweaked on that site have hit page one. Just make sure the monthly exact searches for your subject are under 50k and it will be easier to rank.
Cheers…
If Google is only getting around to doing this as a means of cleaning its index now, then it really must have problems with PPC. Most URL forwarded PPC domains are actually quite easy to detect. This month’s stats on Sedoparking .com may be very interesting.
So wait… google is evil because it doesn’t allow you to exploit your users by showing them shit ads and giving them nothing of value ? yeah, sounds terribly evil on the part of google. It’s not like parking is exploitative, or a scam, or makes the internet worse for everyone in the planet.
Torco – You’re commenting on a 3 year old post. If domain parking isn’t for you, don’t use it. Simple as that.